At iReport.com, your stories can be a part of CNN's global news reporting.

You've probably noticed that red "On CNN" stamp on hundreds of iReports throughout the site. Every one of those iReports has been vetted by CNN producers for use in CNN's coverage. iReport.com images, video and stories appear often on CNN TV and CNN.com. iReporters themselves often share their personal stories or eyewitness accounts of major breaking news on CNN air.

We think that's really special and hope you do, too.

There's no guarantee that your iReport will appear "On CNN," but the ones that do share some common traits. Stories that have the "On CNN" stamp typically:

• Are tied to the news of the day
• Provide a perspective or angle on a story that isn't available anywhere else
• Include the components of a good story -- the who, what, why, where and when

Two final, but important, tips: If you want your story to appear "On CNN," make sure that all the content in your iReport, including text and images, is your own. Also, please add a phone number to your private profile so CNN producers can call you with questions.

We hope to see your iReport "On CNN" soon.

iReporters along the Gulf of Mexico spotted an interesting sight in the sky yesterday. Users sent in photos and videos of a sun halo, created by cirrus clouds. The upper-level clouds cause the reflection of ice crystals around the sun.

RichNeel called the natural phenomenon a "ringbow," EvaS said the halo lasted for approximately two hours and rodman sent in video footage of the ring. Did you happen to catch the halo? Have you ever seen one before? Send your photos and videos here.

The price of fuel is at record highs, and it's affecting other prices too -- like the cost of food.

There's a great discussion about food prices happening right now on iReport.com. Crankers thinks $1.69 is too much for a head of iceberg lettuce. XMan suggests a heavy diet of dried beans. millerlb says a family of 7 can survive on $25 a day. And GeekyCraig says he has changed everything about the way he shops and eats.

So, how are food prices affecting you? What are food prices like in your local markets? Share your stories and join the conversation.

There is no shortage of excitement surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States. Crowds packed Washington, D.C.'s Nationals stadium to see him celebrate Mass on Thursday, and are expected to do the same at Yankee Stadium Sunday.

iReporter James Krehely of Greenbelt, Maryland, was electrified by seeing the Pope in D.C., and says, "It was almost like going to see the Stones or U2! A lot of excitement, but also a lot of spirituality. The spectacle was of course only something the Vatican could achieve with it's own brand of Christianity."

Check out his fantastic photos.

iReporter Chris Banderslice was especially busy reporting the news yesterday. He witnessed a nine-alarm fire on the historic boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. Shortly after the blaze began he sent a series of photos from his cell phone, such as this one of firefighters up against the smoke. CNN learned about the fire thanks to Banderslice, and created an interactive map with his photos over on CNN.com.

The idea behind iReport.com is to invite everyone -- from the casual reader or viewer to the avid news hound -- to share the news that's important to you. The Ocean City fire is an excellent example of a story with powerful local impact. So, no matter how big or small the story is, we want to know what's happening near you. Your story could be part of CNN's worldwide coverage.

The iReport.com beta is less than a week old, and already your stories are being used in CNN's global news coverage. I just wanted to share a few examples with you:

• iReporter Aferdita uploaded celebratory photos she took of Kosovo's declaration of independence. Those images were incorporated into a story on CNN.com.
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• iReporter jackieingles snapped images from a memorial for students slain in a tragic campus shooting at Southern Illinois University on February 16. Her photos were part of a CNN.com photo gallery.
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• iReporter and Second Life enthusiast Janey Bracken wrote a story about autism in a virtual world. Her report was published on CNN's SL iReport blog.
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• And DanMcDermott holds a special place in iReport.com's early history.
  Dan's audio slideshow from the Virginia Primary elections became the first iReport since the beta launch to be incorporated into CNN's news coverage on CNN.com Live.
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  How will you know if a story on iReport.com has been used by CNN? Look for the "On CNN" stamp. You can see them all right here.